Solenoid-operated mechanism



April 8, 1930. Y H. TRENCHAM ET AL 1,754,069

SOLENOID OPERATED MECHANISM File" Sept. 8, 1925 Figl. H3

Fig.3.

Inventor's:

Henrg Trencham,

Herbert. CHeath,

William F? Hamlgn Han-old E.Co

Their Attorneg.

Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES HENRY TRENCHAM, OF RUISLIP, HERBERT C. HEdiTH, 0F KVEMBLEY VJTTJIJIlM I; HAMLYN, OF ACTON, LONDON, AND HAROLD E, COX, 01 IBEGKEN'HAM, ENGLAND,

ASSIGNORS TO GENERAL ELECTRIC ooMPA 'IY, AiCQBP QRAEIOnT OEXNE'QVYORK:

SOLENOID-OPERATED MECHANISM Application filed September 8, 1925, Serial No. 55,187,.andin Great Britain September 11, 192{1=.

Our invention relates to solenoid operated mechanisms, such, for example, as are commonly employed to actuate electric switches.

WVhen a single solenoid, or a battery of 5 two or more solenoids working in unison, is

used, the force applied by the solenoid or battery varies approximately inversely as the air-gap; that is to say, when the solenoid is first energized and the air-gap is greatest the force is a minimum, and it increases as the air-gap diminishes. One disadvantage of this arrangement is that a considerable amount of shock is produced on the operating mechnism and the apparatus operated thereby due to the fact that the force is greatest upon the completion of the operation. It would be possible to reduce this maximum force by reducing the ampere-turns of the solenoid, but the ampere-turns must be such as will ensure a sufiicient force at the beginning of the stroke and should allow for fluctuations in the applied voltage.

An object of our invention is to provide an improved solenoid operating mechanism in which this disadvantage shall be less apparent. "We accomplish this object by employing two solenoids which act at different points on a floating lever to which also an actuated rod is connected and cause the solenoids to operate successively, the second solenoid commencing its stroke on or before the completion of the stroke of the first solenoid- Our invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one embodiment of our invention; Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of the same, and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing the two solenoids are represented by 1 and 2 respectively. Plungers 3 and 4 forming armatures respectively of these solenoids are shown pivoted to opposite ends of the floating lever 5, to an intermediate point of which is pivoted the rod 6, which for example, may be the actuating rod of an electric switch (not shown).

Various means may be .employedforucansingthe two solenoids to operate with;the ,de%.

sired sequence. In Fig. 2 we haveillustrated diagrammatically one way of producingthis sequence. In this figure the switch- 9 is, shown. connected in. circuit with thesupply;

line8 and with the windinglO oithe relay 11; The latterWhen. operated, closes a, cir;-

cuitnfromthe supply line '8through switch; actuating solenoid 1 whereby plunger 3,be-.

gins, its upward movement, rockingthe fioatingle ver fiabout itsopposite end: Closing the circuit of solenoid 1 also closes the cir-i' its to cause the second solenoid to begin its operation at the completion of the stroke of the first solenoid or at some time prior thereto. In the latter case the two solenoids may act simultaneously for a portion of the total operating time, giving a maximum thrust to the operating rod. The pivotal point of the operating rod 6 obviously may be varied to suit particular conditions and the solenoids also may be differently wound.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 8 the rod 6 is pivoted to the lever 5 at one end thereof, while the plungers 3 and 4c of the two solenoids 1 and 2 are pivoted respectively at the opposite end and at the middle portion of the lever. The relative force exerted by the respective solenoids may be varied by suitably proportioning the lever arms and the sizes of the solenoids. In the drawing the solenoid 2 is indicated as smaller than the solenoid l.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. Solenoid operated mechanism comprising a floating lever, an actuated rod pivoted to the lever, a pair of solenoids having plungers ivoted to the lever resnectivel at s need 'urv points thereon and arranged when energized to move the actuated rod in the same direction, a relay connected to control one of said solenoids, and a relay connected to be controlled by said first relay and to control the other of said solenoids.

2. Solenoid operated mechanism comprising a plurality of solenoids each having an armature, a floating lever pivotally connected with said armatures at spaced points, an operated member pivoted to the lever, and means for successively energizing the solenoids to cause a continuous movement of the operated member by the respective solenoids.

3. Solenoid operated mechanism comprising a floating lever, an actuated member pivoted thereto, a pair of solenoids each having a plunger pivoted to the lever at a difierent point thereon and arranged to move the actuated member in the same direction, and means for energizing said solenoids successively with a predetermined time interval therebetween whereby the solenoids operate successively to produce a continuous movement w of the operated member.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this twenty-fifth day of August,

HENRY TRENCHAM. HERBERT G. HEATH. WILLIAM P. HAMLYN. HAROLD E. COX. 

